Clarity

In one way, I think some of Trump's proposed appointees are definitely more honest than those previous. Our foreign policy has been driven by oil since the end of WW 1, so why not have an oil executive? At least the purpose is clear. And having fire breathing military officers in various positions? Why not? We have the largest military in the world by far, over 800 foreign installations (One other country has ONE) and it is over 50% of our national budget. We have troops, right now, in 136 countries and covert operators in 134. We sell and hand out arms to everyone, and fund or back some of the more notorious psychopaths on the planet. Hell, we employ remote controlled drones to kill civilians in other countries. And, frankly, we have been in a new cold war with Russia for several years in addition to breaking the first Bush promises not to expand NATO eastward. The CIA and the Dept. of State backed (and still are operating) the Ukrainian nationalists in Western Ukraine right on their borders. Any complaint of Russian operations is laughable. Housing and Urban Development has been defunded for decades, so wanting to place an incompetent boob is hardly new. The other's...well...we have been an oligarchy bought and sold for a while now, and the Republican party is more or less a wholly owned subsidiary of the Koch Brothers in many states. The quasi-military power used to defend a corporation is definitely not new, but usually it is happening in Peru, or Guatemala, or Honduras rather than North Dakota. But then again, what the hell were the Indian wars other than a front for the railroads and the giant land giveaway to them? I really don't see why people are shocked. If you have read anything truthful about our history, this is nothing new. George Washington was nothing more than a real estate speculator in the Ohio River Valley and his officers were paid off with land grants there. You live in an empire. You always have.